Common traffic offenses in Harrisonburg, VA include speeding, reckless driving, and driving under the influence (DUI). If you have received a traffic ticket or have been arrested or charged with any traffic crime, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced traffic lawyer or defense attorney who can handle the matter on your behalf. The sooner you get a lawyer involved, the better result for your case.
Speeding
The most common traffic offense in Harrisonburg, VA is speeding. Police stop drivers to issue speeding tickets more than any other type of traffic violation in the state. While speeding tickets are usually just fines that you can pay without going to court, you might decide to hire a lawyer to defend you against a speeding ticket for a variety of reasons. For one, you might not have been speeding. Perhaps the officer targeted you because of your race, or he made a mistake in how much he said you were speeding over the limit. You might want to contest the fine out of principle, or you might need to keep a clean driving record for your business employment. Although most people believe that speeding tickets don’t really affect their lives, having multiple speeding tickets on your record in Virginia can cause you to lose your license.
Reckless Driving
Another common traffic violation in Harrisonburg is reckless driving. A reckless driving charge is much more serious than a speeding ticket and can have detrimental consequences. In Virginia, a reckless driving charge is considered a Class 1 misdemeanor but is still a criminal offense. If you are found guilty by a court of law, you will have a criminal record and might be forced to spend time in jail or pay a fine of up to $2,500. You might lose your license for six months or serve up to a year in jail. In Harrisonburg, VA, there are a few things that must be proven to determine that you are driving recklessly. For example, you must be speeding fast enough to be a danger on the road due to the conditions of traffic. You must be putting other drivers or pedestrians in danger with your reckless driving actions. If you are going more than twenty miles above the speed limit or have exceeded 80 MPH on any highway, you could be charged with reckless driving. You will need an experienced lawyer to defend you against such charges. If your attorney cannot get the charges dismissed, he can help you plead to a lesser non-criminal charge or defend you in trial so that you are found not guilty.
Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
Driving under the influence, or DUI, is a very serious crime that is common in Harrisonburg, VA. Local politicians and government officials want to appear to be tough on crime, which means that any alcohol or drug related crime will be prosecuted very aggressively. DUI defense attorneys can help you avoid the potential consequences of a driving under the influence charge. You don’t want to face jail time, lose your driving privileges, pay hefty fines, or end up on probation. Being required to have a breathalyzer in your vehicle, report your every move to a probation officer, attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, or a variety of other legal outcomes can be embarrassing for you and your whole family. Even worse, you could lose your license or have to serve time in jail. You will need an experienced DUI defense lawyer to help you get the charges dismissed, if possible, or to otherwise get you the lowest punishment available to you under the law. In many instances, the officer who arrested you might have insufficient evidence to have stopped you in the first place, and your lawyer can get the charges dismissed based on the officer’s violation of constitutional law.
Don’t settle for an inexperienced lawyer or public defender. Your life and reputation are at stake when it comes to a criminal charge like DUI or reckless driving. Contact one of our lawyers today for a consultation, become informed of your legal rights, and find out what we can do for you to get you the best possible outcome.
